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Original poster

Buyers want to meet us?

75 replies

MarieLondon123 · 28/02/2019 15:23

We sold our home just after Christmas, is had only been on the market for a short period so we where lucky. Our buyers came and saw the property twice over a week period, 2nd time my partner done the viewing after the EA's done the 1st! We are a few weeks from exchanging now, they have just been to us a 3rd time to do some measuring up etc, the Estate agents let them in as our lives are a bit hectic at the moment and we where never keen on doing any viewings in the 1st place.
But they have said they would like to come back a 4th time to meet myself ( cause we haven't met ) and also my partner again?? I find this slightly strange. It's annoying that need to come back a 4th when we are so close to exchanging but also I find it uncomfortable they want to meet us? We used a good EA and paid a good rate as we didn't want to get involved in the sale our property too much.
Am I allowed to refuse this as I am worried it will open a can of worms??? We would just like to get on with the Exchange now!

OP posts:
SalliSunbeem · 28/02/2019 15:26

I see no reason for you to meet, we've bought and sold many times and have never met the vendors/buyers. Tell the agents no, you don't have to explain yourself.

Decormad38 · 28/02/2019 15:29

Ridiculous- say your busy managing all your other properties. Thereby making her look like an insular tit!

Bluntness100 · 28/02/2019 15:32

I don't see thr big issue, buying from someone you have met can make the process easier.

When we bought this house the sellers asked to meet us, as we had offered after one viewing, so we went and met them, it was all good and helped when some issues cropped up.

Ragwort · 28/02/2019 15:32

I think it is useful to meet the owners of a house to ask them specific questions that the EA will not always know the answer to, even if you ask the EA to ask the vendor a question you might not get back a straight answer, even little things like neighbours, dustbin days etc (yes, I know they aren’t essential questions but ‘nice to know’).

We never met the previous owners of our current house and I did find it a little odd, but then came into regular contact with one of them as they were a teacher at my DC’s school & we met at parent’s evenings Grin. I refrained from mentioning a dodgy plumbing issue which we hadn’t been warned about! When we sold our last house we never met the people who bought, they dealt entirely with the EA and never asked us a single question which I thought was a little odd.

Why are you so against meeting them? Buying a house is such a huge investment I am amazed people buy with little more than a couple of quick look rounds sometimes.

lll77 · 28/02/2019 15:33

That's a really strange request. The whole point of using the agent is that you don't have to deal directly with the purchaser and it keeps the whole transaction firmly on a business footing.

Just say no, you don't need to explain why. If they really feel a need to view a fourth (!) time, then I would probably let them but make sure you and your partner are out.

Rainsunwindhail · 28/02/2019 15:36

I’d refuse. It would make my think they wanted to start bargaining with you over fixtures and fittings etc. If I did meet it would only be after exchange, if that was happening before completion.

Oliversmumsarmy · 28/02/2019 15:38

Bluntness100

What would have happened if things hadn’t been good.

I look a certain way. I get stalked round shops by security guards because they think I look like a shop lifter (I have never stolen a thing in my life)

When I sell I make myself scarce because people hate me on sight.

I certainly wouldn’t want to meet buyers.

endevo · 28/02/2019 15:40

That's really bizarre, I'd say no

WindsfromtheNE · 28/02/2019 15:41

I would go back to the EA and get them to ask whether the buyers have some specific queries which need addressing. If there are, and these would need a 4th visit to your house, then the EA could attend with them. If there aren't, then I'd just get the EA to say no, it wont be possible. Have also bought and sold lots of times and never visited/had visits more than twice.

WindsfromtheNE · 28/02/2019 15:47

Asking about neighbours is pointless surely ? No-one is going to say 'oh yeah the woman at no. 2 is a nightmare' are they? I always think of house purchases and sales as purely a business transaction and I prefer as little informal interaction as possible between parties.

Original poster
MarieLondon123 · 28/02/2019 15:49

Where not against meeting them as such....we are generally busy trying to sort out a rental as where are waiting for our property to be built, ( which is an hour and a half from where we currently live ) So our time is limited at the moment, and my partner did meet them on the 2nd viewing and he answered any questions they had? It just seems a bit odd that they will be coming for the 4th time... to what supposedly sit and have a chin-wag with us? Where not wanting to be in a position where we get friendly with them & they suggest exchanging numbers etc or almost come round wanting us to go round showing them and explaining every little thing about the house? We haven't got anything to hide the property is in very good nick, we are only moving to be closer to work and family!! I just want to know if I can just say that I don't feel comfortable meeting them without it sounding really off ?? Obviously I don't want to upset them...

OP posts:
RiverTam · 28/02/2019 15:53

No
Nope
Never

LIZS · 28/02/2019 15:54

Not until after exchange. They probably want to negotiate fixtures and fittings, get local info like bon collections and ask about neighbours.

QuietlyQuaffing · 28/02/2019 16:02

Maybe say that's not convenient but feel free to send any specific questions via solicitors as usual. You could offer your email address if you are feeling generous, but I wouldn't personally.

Bluntness100 · 28/02/2019 16:09

What would have happened if things hadn’t been good

Not sure why I wouldn't have been good, we were four people with the same goal. And we exchanged email addresses, which worked out well when there was a delay their side, and they emailed and asked if we wanted certain things left behind etc.

Personally I wouldn't refuse, I'd just make it at a t9me that suited me, it's only half an hour. I really don't get the whole horror thing people have. It's a huge thing buying a house and this isn't a big deal.

Theemmadilemma · 28/02/2019 16:44

I could see why they might want to, and I wouldn't be against it. Sometimes it's helpful, and as pp said, you might be able to answer questions the EA can't.

I wouldn't necessarily push to meet the owners but I've always found it useful when they have been around.

Oliversmumsarmy · 28/02/2019 16:45

Bluntness100

You seemed to get on with the vendors. But my thoughts were about what would have happened if you couldn’t stand them.

Ragwort · 28/02/2019 16:48

I find (younger?) people often get defensive about things like this, I have no ‘horror’ of meeting new people, I would have liked to meet the people who bought our house, there are lots of things to talk about, not about neighbours in a difficult way but, for example, local facilities, what goes on etc etc. Yes, I know all this can be found on line but I find meeting people and generally being sociable and friendly is a good thing, but so many people (maybe just on Mumsnet?) seem to dislike meeting new people.... yet so many complain of having no friends.

wowfudge · 28/02/2019 17:01

Our buyers specifically asked to meet us for their second viewing when we sold our last house. They wanted to know how we found the area, the neighbours, etc and some specifics about the house because they were looking for a long term family home - all questions the EA couldn't have answered. We saw it as part and parcel of selling the house. Make the time. They may have been hoping you would both be there for their third visit, didn't ask the EAs directly and wish they had.

I don't understand why some people are so dead set against meeting the people paying them vast sums of money!

notangelinajolie · 28/02/2019 17:08

I don't like meeting new people so I would feel uncomfortable with this.

QuietlyQuaffing · 28/02/2019 17:17

Ragwort OP is not complaining about having no friends. Neither has she expressed any "horror" of meeting new people.

For me, re house purchases it's got nothing to do with a general fear of meeting new people. It's more like not wanting to meet up with your ex's new girlfriend socially.

Vitalogy · 28/02/2019 17:21

They may want to ask you about neighbours, schools etc, your personal experience of them. If you've got nothing to hide, then why not. Bit of a pain but still.

Vitalogy · 28/02/2019 17:23

*you aren't supposed to hide neighbour trouble btw.

flirtygirl · 28/02/2019 17:46

I met my buyer last year, he put a note through my door. He came to measure up again and talked about his solicitor and why it had been slow.

I appreciated him doing so as with all the delays, I had considered pulling out. Talking to him helped alot and we exchanged 2 week later and then completed a few days after that.

BasiliskStare · 28/02/2019 17:58

I would do it. How long can it take and if it sets them at ease and gets the sale through - I think it is fine. This may be one of the biggest decisions they have made thus far ( financially) - honestly I wold go along with it.